Electrical step-by-step controller.



No. 821,021. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906 H. H. CUTLER.

ELECTRICAL STEP-BY-STEP CONTROLLER.

APPLIBATION FILED MAY 16 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 821,021. PATBNTBD MAY 22, 1906 H. H. CUTLER.

ELECTRICAL STEP-BY-STEP CONTROLLER.

APPLIOATIUN FILED MAY 10, 1902 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Witness 65. [/2 0 en (on upon the iine2'2, Fi 1.

dinal view through t is core of the solenoid.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HENRY H. CUTLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL STEP-BY-STEP CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Kay 22, 1906.

Application filed Kay 10, 1802. Serial No. 106,701.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic devices of the stepby-step type, and has for its objects to provide a device of the class described that'is efficient, positive, and economical in operation, that is capable of ready adjustment as to the extent of niovsment at each step; and that is simple and in ex ensive te -manufacture and to install;

y invention is particularly applicable to motor-controllers; but so far as some features are concerned it is in no wise so limited.

It has been proposed heretofore to vary the rate of cutting out or otherwise changing the resistance in a circuit by varying the interval of time between successive actuations of the step-by-step device.

My present invention also contemplates varying the rate of change of the resistance by adjustingilthe extent of movement of the parts at eac ener Ization of the operating magnet, whereby t e net result is to cut out or change the resistance slowly or quickly, according to said adjustment.

The invention is more fully described in connection with the drawings, in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1' is a vertical elevation of the base upon whi oh the step-by-step device is mount ed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same Fig. 3 is a longitu- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is adia ammatic view of the circuits embodied in t e apparatus. modification, showing means for varying the resistance in ashunt path around the operatingimagnet.

eferrin to Fi s. insulatingass, 0 slate, marble, or other suitable material, ads ted to be secured'to a wall or othervertical support by means of screws 3 passing throu h the same and into the wall or support. pen the face of this edge of 'the'extension 20 of the core an Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic viewof the 1 and 4, 2 indicates an base-plate 2 the resistance-controlling solenoid 4 is mounted. This solenoid is provided with a frame 5, having the lugs or feet 6 bolt ed to the base 2 to support the solenoid in position upon the same. Suitable rheostatcontacts 7 are also secured upon the base by means of screws 8 or in any other desired manner, the sections of the resistance bein 7 included between the binding-posts 3 thereof. A traveling cross-head 10 carries suitable carhon-brushes 11, one at each end, held in position by means of plates 12, bearin at one end upon the brushes andat the ot or end upon a. raised flange 13, formed upon the lower side of thecross-head 10, these plates bein held in lace by means of bolts 14 pass t rough t e same and through the vertiin "on? portion of the flange 13 and each carrying a coiled spring 15 between its head and the face of the bar 12. By this means a yielding Eressure 'is exerted upon the ends of the rushes 11, so that a good electrical contact will always be maintained between them and the contact-segments 7. This cross-heed is rigidly bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to a verticall -reclproca'.ting square rod 16, preferably of V rass, passing through a. guide 17, carried by the base 2 and which carries the wei ht of the cross-head and rod under nor me conditions. The upper end of the rod 16 enters and loosely fits a central bore 17 in the core 18 of. the solenoid 4, which core re ci rocates, as usual, in a brass tube upon w ich the magnet of thesolenoid is wound. The core 18 is provided with an extension 19, upon which is hinged at*20 a thin hardened-steel clutch strip or member 21. A coiled spring 22 surrounds the rod 16 and is located between the lower end of the core and the top of'the clutch memberQl, and a similar spring 23 is placed between the rapper the lower face of the frame 5 of the solenoid.

The' opposite end of the clutch member 21 rests upon an adjusting-screw 24, suitably mounted in a post upon the base 2. Be-

ne'ath the cross-head a similar clutching member 25 is carried loosely at one end in a slot formed in a stop-bolt 26, mounted upon the base 2, and at its opposite end a on the armature 2 7 of a magnet 28; secure to the base 2. A projecting member 29 carried upon the lower side of the cross-head 10,

normally engages a switch member 30, piveted at 31 upon the base and ads 'ted nor- IIO molly to contact at its opposite en with the shaped aperture in the beveled face of a stationary contact 32, suitably mounted upon the base 2. Contacts 33 are provided upon the outside of the rows of contact-strips 7 at their upper ends to engage with the beveled edges 34 of the cross-head in its raised position to assist in carryin the current when the resistance is cut out. i switch 35 is secured at one end upon a support 36 carried by the base, and at its opposite end carries a contact adapted to cooperate with the beveled face of a contact 37, also carried by the base. As shown in Fig. 2, the switch is in the rear of the reciprocating rod 16 and is adapted to be' lifted by a screwbolt 38, carried upon the upper face of the cross-head 10 when the cross-head is in its uppermost position.

square'rod 39 is rigidly secured in thebore m.the upper end 0 the core 18 of the solenoid *4. and passes through a similarlyu p er part of t e frame 5 of the solenoid. l e up er part of this rod is turned off round, there yforming a shoulder on thgslcm uare portion, upon which shoulder brassw ers 40 of any desired num her are carried. This portion of the rod passes through a suitable aperture in a switch member 41, pivoted at one end in a yoke 42, carried by a plate 43, mounted upon the u per'end of the frame 5 of the solenoid. T e opposite end of the switch 41 carries a contact 44, adapted to engage the beveled face of a contact 45, suitably supported by and'insulated from the projecting end of the plate or bar43. Upon the upper end of the rod 39 a nut 46 is placed, between which and the up per edge 0 the switch 41 a number of brass washers 47 are located. This switch carries the weight of the medium of the rod 39 when the device is not in operation. A coiled spring 48 is mounted upon the pivot-bolt of the switch 41 and presses against one side of the said switch,

whereby the friction causes the syvitch to remain either in its up or or lower osition until positively move in Y means of t e core.

brasswasher 49 is carried end of the core 18.

Under normal conditions the parts are in the position shown in Fi 1. When the magnet 28 and the solenoi 4are energized, the core 18 is lifted, which causes the clutch member 21 to engage and lift the square rod 16, togetherwith the cross-head 10. As soon as the upper washer 40 strikes the switch 41 it is opened, thereb opening the'circuit of the solenoid 4 which a lows its core to dro The cross-head is revented from droppin at this time by t e clutch member 25, w ich maintains it in the position to which it was upon the upper raised by the solenoid. The switch 4l.re

mains open until the washers47, carried beneath the nut 46 upon the rod 27, strike its upper ed e, when the core dro s. As soon as Lac crossead 10 moves out 0 its normal posolenoid-core' through the sition the projection 29 carried thereb is moved away from the end of the switch 30, which is opened. by gravity. The closing of the switch 41 upon its contact 45 again energizes the solenoid 4 and causes a re etition of the above-described o oration. he crosshead is thus lifted step y step until the screw carried thereby en ages the switch 35 and o ens the same. his is arranged to open t e circuit of the's'olenoid 4, so that it cannot be again energized until the cross-head is dropped. Of course when magnet 28 is deenergized the clutch member 25 releases the rod 16 and the cross-head will fall to normal position. The square rod 16 provides more clutching-surface than would around rod, while brass is a better material for the rod than iron or similar material.

In Fi 5 the circuits and other ap aratus involved in the system are shown. if solenoidswitch 50 is employed to control the cir cult of the motor 51 and other ap aratus, and a switch 52, automatically controlled throu h the medium of a float, is used to control the operation of the switch 50. The plus and minus sidesiof the ower-circuit are indicated, respectively,'by t e numerals 53 and. 54. When the switch 55 is closed, the apparatus is in condition for automatic operation from the float 57. With the parts in the position shown in the figures the motor is not operatin and all parts are in normal osition. WTmn'the liquid in the tank falls sufi iciently, the lever 58 of the automaticswitch 52 is raised and lifts the Wei hted arm 59 beyond the vertical, when it alls toward the left, striking the switch-arm 60 and carrying it into contact with the terminals of the switch. The circuit of the main switch 5 is thus closed from the negative side 54 of the power-circuit over conductor 61 through the windin of the solenoid 50, conductor 62, through t e con tacts of switch 52 over conductor 63 to binding-post 64, thenceover conductor 65 to contact 32 of the switch 30, thence through the arm of the'switch 30 and conductor 66 to the left-hand contact 33 of the rheostat-conductor 67 to binding-post 68, and thence 'over wire 69 to the positive side 53 of the power-circuit. The switch 50 is thus energized and closes a circuit through its bridging contact from the conductor 61 over conductor 70 through switch, 41, the winding of the. solenoid 4,

switch 35 to, terminal-33, and thence over wires 67 and 69 to the opposite side of the power-circuit. At the same time a circuit isclosed from the switch 50 over conductor 71, through the series coil and the armature of the motor 51, thence over conductor 72 and through the right-hand section of the armature-resistance 49*, thence across to' the op' .posite section through the cross-head 10' arid.

through the latter section of the resistance and over conductors 67 and 69 to the oppo Site side of the'power-circuit. Another path the adjustment being such that the rod 16 5 is now energized and lil ts its core which carrice the clutch member 21 with it and serves to lift the rod 16 and cross-head 10. As soon 'as the cross-head is lifted its projection 29 is move out of the ath of the switch-arm 30, the opposite end o which drops and opens the circuit through its contact 32. The ath through the switch 30, which forms the s unt of the magnet 28, hein opened the current is forced to flow .throug the magnet 28 and lamp 73. The magnet 28 is thus energized and lifts one end of the clutch member 26,

can be freel lifted through the same, but is revented om drop ing by means of the 'ction member 25 w en its end is lifted by the armature 27. The inclusion of the magnet 28 and the lamp 73 in the circuit of the switch 50 serves to cut down the consumption of the current therein, whereby but little is used during the further operation of the same. As soon as the core 18 of the solenoid 4 is lifted the washers 40, carried upon the rod 39, engage the switch 41 and open the same at the contacts 44 and 45. This serves to denergize the solenoid 4, permitting its core to drop, while the rod 16 and cross-head 10 remain in the position to which they have been lifted, owing to the clutchin member 25. The switch 41, as above exp ained,Vre-T mains in this lifted position until the stop carried upon the upper end of the rod 39 strikes it and causes it to a ain close, when the operation of ener izing the magnet 4 and lifting the cross-hes is repeated. This operation is repeated successively until the cross head is lifted to the u per contact 7 of the series, and thus entirel y cuts the resistance 49 out of the arrnature-circuit of the motor. When in this position, the stop 38 carried thereby engages the switch and positively opens the circuit of the solenoid 4, which prevents its successive actuation. The magnet 28,'ho wever, remains energized, so that the clutch member 25 maintains the cross-head 10 in its raised position. The contacts 33 engage the beveled ends of the cross-head 10 and assist in carrying the operatingcurrent.

The extent to which the cross-head 10 is moved at each actuation of the magnet or solenoid 4, and therefore the time required for cutting out the resistance 49, may be vari ed by adjusting the stop 24 and also by varying the number of washers 40 and 4'? carried upon the rod 39, end of the core 18 of the solenoid 4.

A shunt-circuit path is rovided around the magnet of the solenoid 4' to provide a path for the surge of current or kick when the circuit thereof is broken. This surge being in the same direction as the energizingsecured. to the upper current it maintains the magnet energized longer than if this parallel path were omitted. By this means the time of deenergization is increased, whereby the rapidity of vi bration of the core of the solenoid 18 decreased. By varying the amount of the resistance in this shunt-path the time of deener izing the solenoid may be varied, since the ower the resistance the greater and longer the flow oi the extra current and the longer the time required for deenergizin the magnet. The

presence of this'paralle path also prevents the rapid building up of the magnetism in the solenoid, for the reason that the current of self-induction is opposed to that ofener izlug-current. By this arrangement a furt or means of adjustin the rate of vibration of the solenoid is o tained. The lamps 75, which are usually for this purpose, correspond to the voltage of the power-circuitthat is, if one hundred andten volts are used on the power-circuits one-hundred-and-tenvolt lamps should be used. If two hundred and twenty volts are used,a two-hundred-andtwenty-volt lamp should also be employed, and so on. Tl..e presence of the lam or resistance 75 and the parallel path a so prevents sparking between the contacts 44 and 45.

The parts remain in the described condition and-position until the float reaches its 0 0- site limit,when thelever 58 throws the welg ted arm 59 to the opposite side of its pivot,

which suddenly opens the switch-arm 60,

thus breaking the circuit of the main solenoid 50 and the magnet 28. These parts being deenergieed the motor-circuit is opened as well as the operating-solenoid circuit, and the clutch, 25 is released, thus e mitting the cross-headto fall and return sill parts to the position shown in the fi res.

I do not wish to be imited to the precise details shown, which have been worked out for commercial purposes, as it is obvious that various changes may be made therein and not depart from the sec or principle of the invention. For exam e, the switch 35 may be dispensed with and the upper end of the of the rod 39, secured in the core, and thus IIO ' rod 16 depended upon to stop the vibration of'th'e solenoid by being lifted into the path mechanically prevent the actuation of' the switch 41. Other changes, it is a parent,

may also be made without material y altering the construction or operation.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l i. In an. electric controller for motors, a variable resistance adapted to be included in a motor-circuit, a magnetically-controlled means adapted to be successively operated to vary the amount of said resistance in the circuit, and means whereby the amount of movement of the resistance-varyingdevice at each successive operation is changed for governing the time required for the total variation, substantially as described.

2. In an electric controller for starting motors, a resistance, ma netically-o erated means for cutting out sai resistance y successive movements in one direction, and

means for varyin the extent of eachvmovement, substantial y as described.

3. An electric controller em loyed in starting a motor, comprising a sing e solenoid and its core, means w ereby the successive movements of the core in one direction will cut out the resistance in the armature-circuit of an electric motor, and means for varying the amount of each said movement, whereby the time period required for cuttin out the whole resistance may be change substantially as described.

4. An electric controller em loyed in starting a motor, com rising a sing ie solenoid and its core, means W ereby the successive movements of the core in one direction will cut out the resistance in the armature-circuit of an electric motor, and means for varying the extent of the movement of the core, substantially as described. I

, 5. 'In an electric controller, the combination with a variable resistance adapted to be included in an electric circuit, of a resistancevarying element therefor, means for operati'ng said element step by step, and further -means for ad'usting the amount of movement imparte to said element at each step,

- included in an electric circuit, of a resistancevarying element therefor, a solenoid and its reeiprocatfiig core for operating said element step by step, and means for'adjusting the movement of said element at each step, sub

stantially as described.

7 In an electric controller, the. combina tion with a variable resistance adapted to be included in an electric circuit, of a resistancevar'ying' element therefor, a solenoid and its reciprocating core for operating said element step by step in one direction, independent means for permitting the return of said ele-' ment, and means for adjusting the extent of said rod an'd'brush step movement of said element at each step, substantially as described.

rheosta't havin a series of contact-segments, of a brush a apted to be movedover said segments, a rod to move the same, and a rin'g cluteh mechanism magnetically; controlled to move qf'said series to the other, substantially as de scribed. i

9.- The combination with a rheostaft having a series of contact-segments, of-a brush adapted to be moved over said segments, a

rod carrying the brush, a ring-clutc y step from one end outthe' said resistance by adiustingthe required forenergizing and eenergi the magnet and'theextent of movement 0 saidagnetically controlled to lift said rod step by step to move the brush from one end ti) the other of the series of segments, and a second ring clutch also magnetically controlled to maintain the brush and rod as 10 as desired in the osition to which it-is lifte as escribed.

10. The combination with arheostat hav-' ing two series of contact-segments, of a crosshead carrying brushes adapted to travel over said segments, a rod to which said crosshead is secured, a solenoid having a core,. a rin -clutch actuated b said core to lift the sai rod and cross-hea to cause the brushes to travel over the contact-Se merits, and a similar ring-clutch for said re and a magnet to control the same to maintain the crosshead as ion as desired in any position, to

'which it is lifted, substantially as described;

11. The combination with a series of contact-segments, a brush adapted to travel over the same, a rod carrying the brush, a solenoid having a core, a ring-clutch secured to the lower end of the core, and adapted to lift the rod, a ivoted switch mounted above the solenoid arod carried by the said core and extending through the switch, and adapted in its upper movement to open the switch and in its downward movement to close the same, Whereb when the circuit of the solenoid is closed at t e main switch it is automatically and successively energized to lift the rod and brush, substantially as described. 12. "In a system of motor control the combinationwith a main switch, of a rheostat and its 0 crating-solenoid the circuit of saidsolenoid eing controlled by said switch, an auxiliary magnet to maintain the movable element of the rheostat in operated osition' said magnet bein normally. shunte by said movable element at adapted to be connected in series with the main-switch magnet at other times,' whereby the main switch re-, ceives a'strong current at first but a weaker current thereafter owing to the presence in its circuit of the said auxiliary magnet, sub

stantially as described.

' 13. In a controller, the combination with a resistance,' of ma etically-operated means for cutting out said resistance. step by step, and means for varying the time required for deenergizing the magnet to vary the'rapidity of operation of the step-bystep device, sub-' stantially as described.

14. In a controller, the combination with a resistance, of m etically-operated means forcutting out said resistance ste by step, and means for varyingthe time or cutting time means ateach step, substantially as described.

15.. The'oumt liationwith-amotor, .of a startiagsheo'stat therefor actuated step bystep to cut out the resistance iii-said rheostat rheostat being actuated step b in the motor-circuit and electrical means for varying the time of movement of said stepby-ste device at each step.

16. he combination with a motor, of a starting-rheotsat therefor having its resistance included in the armature-circuit of said motor at the time of starting the same, said step, and means for ad usting the time o movement imparted to said step-by-step device at each ste 1 7. The combination with an electric motor, of a controller therefor, oonsistin of a rheostat, the resistance of which is inc uded in the armature-circuit of the motor at start ing, a solenoid and its reciprocating core for operating the movable element of said rheostat step by step in one direction, inde end ent means for permitting the return 0 said element to normal position, and further tially means for ad'uting the extent of movement taken by sai element at each step, substanas described. V r 18. The combination with a rheo'stat, of a solenoid and its core adapted to operate said rheostat, a switch eontrolling the energizetion of said solenoid adapted to be operated by the core of said solenoid, and a resistanee in addition to that of the rheostat connected in parallel to the solenoid to govern the variation of the resistance of the rheostat and to prevent sparking at the contacts of the switch, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

, HENRY H. CUTLER. W'itnesses:

F. L. PIERCE, T. R. BACON. 

